Roman Sites and Roman Ruins in Britain and the UK

Our guide to the very best Roman ruins and Roman sites in Britain will help you discover the fabulous Roman remains still on offer in the UK today.

There are numerous Roman sites in Britain, some are world famous and explored by thousands of tourists every year, while other UK Roman ruins are left ignored and forgotten, sought only by diehard Roman-history fans. Our comprehensive map of Britain's Romans sites will help you explore them all.

From the moment they invaded in 43AD through to their eventual withdrawal around 410AD, the Romans stamped their authority on Britain through military fortifications, Roman-style cities, civic buildings and great monuments. This archaeological legacy can still be explored across the United Kingdom, from the famous Roman Baths of Bath to Hadrian’s Wall and almost everywhere in between.

Our guide to the Roman sites of the UK and to the UK's Roman ruins can help you discover all of these places and more. Simply explore the interactive map of Roman Sites in Britain above or take a look at what’s on offer below.

Remember, you can shortlist the Roman sites in Britain as you explore Historvius, allowing you to build your own itinerary and free guidebook to put together your perfect UK Roman sites tour. You can also explore our global Roman Sites page.

Roman Sites and Roman Ruins in Britain and the UK: Editor's Picks

One of the best – if not the best – Roman sites in the UK, Portchester contains the country’s only intact set of Roman walls. Built during the third century AD, Portchester is the country’s only example of a Roman fort whose walls still stand complete up to around six metres. Definitely one not to miss.

Probably the best-known of the Roman ruins in Britain, Hadrian’s Wall was a vast defensive structure spanning 73 miles and built under the rule of Roman Emperor Hadrian between 122 and 130 AD. Actually made up of a number of sites, Hadrian’s Wall is probably the most famous of the UK’s Roman sites. Today, many areas can be explored, giving an insight into this 73-mile ancient fortification.

One of the most popular of all Roman sites in the United Kingdom, the Roman baths of Bath contain the remains of this ancient bath house as well as other artefacts, finds and displays from the ancient Roman town of Aqua Sulis. The Romans Baths were built around 44 AD - vast and lavish, the baths were able to accommodate far more people than just the residents of this town and were intended as a place for people to visit from across the Empire. Today, the Roman Baths offer an incredibly comprehensive insight into the lives of the ancient Romans in the town and around Britain. The site looks quite small from the outside, but it is actually vast and a visit can last several hours.

Containing the remains of a huge Roman palace complex, Fishbourne is one of the most interesting Roman sites in the UK and contains not only ruins, but interactive displays and reconstructions. Built on the site of a Roman supply compound, Fishbourne was a vast and impressive development which would have been built for the very highest echelons of Romano-British society.

One of the most popular Roman remains in Britain, Bignor has some of the most amazing Roman mosaics in the UK as well as practical, hands on activities for kids. The villa site was developed over two centuries before it was abandoned, probably after the Roman withdrawal from Britain. Re-discovered in the early 19th century, it is now enclosed in Georgian buildings which are themselves worthy of note.

One of the best known forts along Hadrian’s Wall, Vindolanda contains an array of interesting Roman ruins as well as an excellent museum. The structures at Vindolanda range from a pre-Hadriatic baths complex to post-Roman mausoleum and church, demonstration of the lengthy period for which the site has been occupied. It remains one of the most popular Roman sites in the UK today and is visited by huge numbers of tourists every year.

Containing the remains of ancient granaries, houses and markets, this Roman archaeological site was once a thriving Roman settlement. Before the construction of Hadrian’s Wall, Corbridge was the site of several forts but once the wall was complete, Corbridge began developing into a town. Today, it’s open to visitors and certainly among the largest roman remains in Britain to explore.

One of the best preserved forts along Hadrian’s Wall, this archaeological site has loads to see, including the ancient fortifications and houses. Built in around 124 AD, Housesteads Roman Fort housed around 1,000 troops and remained in use until the fourth century. It is one of many forts to be found among the Roman sites in the United Kingdom.

One of the lesser-known British Roman sites, the remains of this amphitheatre lie tucked away in the Guildhall Art Gallery. While little is left to see, it has been turned into an interesting exhibition and is therefore worth a look.

Built in the 1st century AD, Lullingstone Roman Villa is one of many UK Roman sites which give an insight into the lives of the Romano-British elite. Today you can explore its ruins as well as artefacts, videos and interactive displays.

Located today in modern St Albans, Verulamium was one of the most important Roman cities in Britain. Formerly the tribal capital of the native Catuvellauni tribe, Verulamium was conquered by the Romans during their invasion of the island in 43 AD. Visitors can still see the remains of the Roman walls, as well as the impressive Roman theatre - one of the few Roman theatres in Britain to have survived. As well as the site itself, Verulamium Museum stands on St Michael’s St, with displays of Roman everyday life.

Perhaps in contrast to the above, this pretty reconstructed Roman site is made up of a number of Roman finds and artefacts gathered from various sites in Roman Chester. One of the most tranquil places on our list of Roman Sites in the UK.

One of the more hidden places on our map of Roman sites in Britain, Welwyn Roman Baths can be found in a specially built vault under the A1 motorway. Excavations took place before the motorway was constructed and efforts to preserve the baths resulted in the construction of the chamber and an access tunnel. Visitors can view the remains of the small bath complex, information on the Roman approach to bathing and on the lives of those who lived in Roman Britain.

The Roman Lighthouse in Dover is a ruined first century AD Roman tower which is one of the best-preserved of its kind anywhere in the world. The original structure was 24m tall and consisted of eight storeys of which only four remain. Today it sits directly alongside the Saxon church of St Mary-in-Castro, which is constructed from Roman materials.

Roman Sites and Roman Ruins in Britain and the UK: Site Index

Aesica was one of several UK Roman Forts build along the line of Hadrian’s Wall. It is thought to have been constructed in the early 2nd century - and today it’s remains sit directly alongside a modern farm complex. The original fort had three main gates with double portals and towers at each corner of the fort. At some point the western gate was completely blocked up. Today the fort remains reasonably well preserved by the standards of the sites along Hadrian’s Wall, which itself is probably the most famous Roman site in Britain. A Roman bathhouse has also been found a short distance to the south of the fort, around 100 yards away.

A British Roman ruin located in the lake district, Ambleside Roman Fort dates from the 2nd century and are located on the shores of Lake Windermere. It served as a supply base to the larger fortifications at Hadrian’s Wall as well as being used to keep order in the local area. When the Romans first arrived in Britain and conquered the north of England an initial fortification was built here, however it was abandoned soon after. The site was later reoccupied by the Romans and a permanent fort was established early in the 2nd century AD.

Built around 160AD, Arbeia was a supply base and garrison which guarded the entrance to the river Tyne. Today, Arbeia has been partially reconstructed, allowing visitors to experience how this once-mighty fortification would have looked in its prime. It is one of many Roman ruins in Britain that gives an insight into Roman military fortifications.

Once forming part of the Antonine Wall, this ancient military outpost was one of the most important defensive points along the wall. Today, visitors can still discern parts of the fort, including its bath complex. Among the less well-known UK Roman ruins, it is still worth a look.

Built in the 2nd century as part of one of the Antonine Wall forts, Bearsden can now be found among modern houses and is one of the more tucked-away of the places on our Roman Sites UK list. Today, the remains represent some of the best preserved of this Roman military structure.

Binchester Roman Fort contains the remains of one of the largest Roman fortifications in Britain. Founded around 80 AD, the fort could play host to a considerable military force and was an important staging post for the Roman military in the region. Binchester Roman Fort remained in use throughout the Roman period and a large civilian settlement grew up around it. Today the Binchester site is open to visitors, who can explore its remains along with those of a Roman bath house within the complex.

Situated alongside one of the best-preserved stretches of Hadrian’s Wall, Birdoswald was once home to over 1,000 soldiers. Even after the Romans left Britain, Birdoswald Roman Fort remained inhabited up to the fifth century AD. Today, the ruins include walls, gateways and workshops. One of many forts on our map of Roman Sites in the UK.

Housed in a purpose built structure, Brading Roman Villa on the Isle of Wight was a 1st century Roman house and is an interesting example of Britain’s roman sites. Thought to have first been constructed in the mid-first century, it is believed that the villa was developed into a stone structure by the middle of the second century.

Bremenium Roman Fort was an important Roman outpost which was located beyond Hadrian’s Wall. This heavily fortified garrison stood for more than 200 years as the most northerly base in the entire Roman Empire. Unlike many forts of its type, Bremenium had thicker walls and included significant artillery emplacements - highlighting the fact this fort existed at the very fringes of Empire, essentially in enemy territory. Consequently, no civilian settlements grew up outside the walls and there seems to have been little or nothing of this nature at Bremenium. Though much of the original stonework has been plundered over the years, the remains of the Roman fort of Bremenium can still be seen.

The Roman Fort at Burgh Castle is one of the best preserved Roman sites in Britain. Built between 260 AD and 280 AD, the walls of this impressive fortification remain in remarkably good condition - they survive on three sides and stretch as high as four metres. Known as Gariannonum, Burgh Castle Roman Fort was originally built as part of the Saxon Shore defences, which were designed to act as a defensive system protecting against seaborne raiders from Denmark and Germany. Today the remains of Burgh Castle Roman Fort are truly impressive; both for their state of preservation and for the located, situated as it is on a low cliff above the Waveney estuary.

Hidden next to a medieval church in Holyhead, Anglesey, this small Roman fortlet is one of the most obscure Roman sites in the United Kingdom. It is thought that Caer Gybi was constructed to defend against pirates who were operating in the area and this smaller fortlet was probably an outpost of the larger Roman fort at Segontium.

Caerwent contains the fascinating remains of the Roman settlement of Venta Silurum. Particularly impressive are the ruins of the defensive wall, which rank among the best of their type of any UK Roman ruins.

A Norman castle built over the site of a Roman fort, Cardiff Castle contains the reconstructed remains of the original Roman defensive wall. With its good access to the sea, the site of Cardiff Castle was first home to a succession of British Roman forts, initially built in the mid first century AD.

A second century AD luxurious Roman Villa, the ruins of Chedworth today give just a hint of its former glory. One of several lavish Roman villas to have been excavated among the Roman ruins of Britain.

Chester Roman Amphitheatre is Britain’s largest known Roman amphitheatre. For those seeking Roman sites in the UK, this is one of the better known. However, the fact that little remains of this amphitheatre can mean it can be a bit of a let-down.

One of the most interesting Roman sites in Britain, Chesters Roman Fort contains the extensive and well-preserved remains of this Roman legionary outpost which made up part of the defences of Hadrian’s Wall.

Little remains of this 2nd century amphitheatre which once held up to 8,000 people. However, it’s still worth a stroll by for those seeking Roman sites in the area. Among just a handful of amphitheatres on our map of Roman ruins in Britain.

Once the capital of Roman Britain, Colchester Castle is built on the remains of the famous Roman Temple of Claudius. One of the most hidden Roman sites in Britain, the remains of this temple can only be viewed on special tours of the castle.

Little remains of this site, which was once part of the Antonine Wall, a vast second century defensive barrier in Scotland which ran from West Kilpatrick to Carriden. It is one of a number of Britain’s Roman sites which made up part of this famous defensive structure. Visitors to the site can make out two beacon platforms and a defensive ditch which would have formed part of the original fortifications.

Containing artefacts and replicas of Roman military equipment such as weapons, armour and chariots, this is an interesting place to visit for those seeking Roman sites in Britain. The museum is located next to one of the oldest Roman forts in the area, as Magna under the Romans and as Carvoran in the post-Roman era, though very little is known about this fort.

Once an Iron Age fort captured by Vespasian during the Roman invasion of Britain. The Roman Second Legion, led by the future emperor, was sent to subdue the region and captured a number of hill forts in the area. Little archaeological evidence remains of the subsequent Roman fort which was built here.

Built between around 190 and 220 AD, this defensive wall protected Roman London. A number of remains can still be found today, but like many UK Roman Sites, a little imagination is needed to picture its ancient grandeur.

Dedicated to the history of London, the Museum of London contains a wealth of information and artefacts about the city’s Roman past and also gives information on other UK Roman archaeological sites in London.

Built upon the remains of the Roman fort of Anderida, Pevensey includes elements of the original fortifications and is an example of multi-period Roman remains in Britain. It is one of many military sites to have been excavated among Britain’s roman ruins.

Originally named Rutupiae, Richborough marks the site where the Romans landed in Britain in 43 AD and is one of many forts on our Roman Sites UK map. Today visitors can view the remains of the fortifications, earthworks and more.

The modern day village of Ribchester is situated on the site of what was once a large Roman fort known as Bremetennacum Veteranorum. It is believed a first incarnation of Ribchester Roman Fort was built in 72AD as a timber fortification. This Roman fort would have housed a military garrison and would have been used to secure the local area. The fort was later rebuilt in stone, probably in the mid-to-late second century AD. Today, the remains of Ribchester Roman Fort and the Ribchester Roman Bathhouse can be seen alongside the Ribchester Roman Museum, which showcases the best of the history of the site.

One of the forts making up Hadrian’s Wall, Segedunum is a great place to view the remains of the wall as it includes a 35m high viewing tower. There were several wall forts along the 73-mile stretch of Hadrian’s Wall, each garrisoned by Roman soldiers. From around 122 AD, Segedunum held 600 soldiers and was one of the eastern forts along the wall. One of the most interesting Roman sites in Britain.

Originally called Letocetum, Wall Roman site was a military staging post. Visitors can view the remains of this site as well as the museum. One of several Roman ruins in Britain managed by English Heritage.

Impressive though they are, little of the original Roman walls of York remain today. However, the Multangular Tower is partly of original Roman construction and is one of the lesser known UK Roman ruins.